For over 80 years, Orson H. Gygi Co. has been a beloved wholesale supplier for restaurants, caterers, and home cooks in Salt Lake Valley. And as we look back over those 80 years there are several events that stand out to us, but perhaps none as prominently as the fire at Gygi in 1998.
On Saturday, March 21st at 2 a.m., a destructive four-alarm fire ravaged the business at 3500 S. 300 West, completely destroying its 20,000 square-foot building. Firefighters arrived on the scene and battled the fire at Gygi for more than two hours, using over 10,000 gallons of water per minute to contain the fire. Firefighters also said a lake of Coca-Cola was floating in the back parking lot. Thankfully, no one was injured, though the building was heavily damaged, with the roof caving in shortly after the fire crews had to retreat.
After a four-day joint investigation by local and federal fire officials, it was determined the cause of the fire was arson. The suspicious circumstances included the presence of a man leaving the area just after the flames erupted and an unlocked door upon the fire department’s arrival.
With the amount of inventory largely lost in the fire, the financial loss was estimated at $2.5 million. Brad McDonald, Orson Gygi’s grandson, expressed his determination to continue the business despite the destruction, noting that the backup computer records saved most of the company’s data. And the company planned to reopen quickly, maintaining its dedication to employees and customers despite the setback.
Emotionally though, the fire at Gygi was an immeasurable loss for many of the family and employees. It was not just a workplace, but also a place full of experiences and memories. All of Orson’s children and most of his grandchildren did much of their growing up inside the store. And among the irreplaceable items lost was Orson H. Gygi’s wooden cane, a symbol of his presence. He was famous for waving and shaking it at people when he talked, and it was hung up in the store as a reminder of him.
Very little inventory was salvaged from the fire. Seen strewn among the rubble were mostly charred pots and pans and few shopping carts. However, they did recover some scorched nickels and though charred and scuffed, the coins still held all of their value. The exact same could be said for the company. The Deseret News quoted Brad McDonald as saying, “As far as I’m concerned, the business is the employees and the customers and that’s still intact. This was only the place where we housed the inventory. We’ll be back up and running again on Monday.”
Read the full article from the Desert News.
